ABSTRACT
Sexual violence is an emerging
public health challenge that affects millions of adolescents around the globe.
The Nigerian increased prevalence is not much different from what other African
counterparts suffers as the media has at least a case report of sexual violence against minors daily.
Despite studies revealing these age group to be the most affected, little is
known about how much awareness and
knowledge these adolescents have on sexual violence, its predisposing
risks and available help resources as
well as what experiences the adolescents with low economic status have. It is
in the light of this that the researcher carried out the study to explore the
knowledge and experience of adolescents on sexual violence in public High
School in Ife Central local Government Area.
This study employed a descriptive
cross-sectional design, A total population of 362 Adolescents from four public
high school, participated in the study. The questionnaire used was a self
structured questionnaire with an adapted section from the sexual violence
experience standard scale. The questionnaire was validated and tested for
reliability with an overall alpha coefficient 0.8. 365 copies of the
questionnaire were distributed and 362 were
returned back to the researcher dully filled. The data retrieved from
the participant were coded and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social
Sciences (SPSS) version 22. It involved descriptive & inferential
statistics
Findings from this study shows a mean age of
15.9 with a standard deviation of 1.55 The results also shows that majority of
the adolescents 304(83.5%), In Ife Central Local Government Area, have poor
knowledge on what sexual violence is,
its predisposing risk, and knowledge of resources to go for help if they fall
victims. While 58 (16.4) have good knowledge of sexual violence. The mean value
for knowledge was 5.74 with a standard deviation of 2.3. On experience, low
level of sexual violence experience was
reported by 271 ( 74.5%) of the respondents while 93( 25.5%) reported high
experience of sexual violence.the mean value for experience was10.87 with a
standard deviation of 3.94.Both male and females reported experience of sexual
violence, however, most males reported being more of perpetrators than
victims. Adolescents with parent of lower social economic status
showed higher report of experience of sexual violence than their counterparts.
Adolescents with good knowledge of sexual violence and its risk factors.
reported lower experience of sexual
violence.
In conclusion, poor knowledge of
Adolescents on sexual violence, its risk and available resources, as well as
low socio-economic background of adolescents are contributing factor to increase prevalence among this age group. Thus
it is recommended that more efforts and intervention studies should be put in
place to increase awareness on sexual violence, especially on the risk and
resources available to these adolescents for help. There is also need for
community nurses to help link resource centers to schools. School based
intervention studies are needed to really determine best approach to curbing
this menace.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Sexual violence is a major
dehumanizing and serious emerging public health problem. It is also a social
problem that affects thousands of people each year throughout the world, and
adolescents seem to be the most affected victims due to their vulnerability (Center for Disease Control, 2011). About one
hundred and fifty million girls below
the age of 18 are said to have had
experience of some form of sexual abuse (WHO, 2012). Researches also shows that 6 out of 10 sexual
violence actions is done against girls between the age of fifteen or younger. Despite these high figures, they are
still an underestimation of figures as a good number of sexual violence cases
are never reported to the relevant establishment due to fear, shame and bias.
(Sandra & Bloom, 2005). The male
counterparts are not left out as well, although females seem to bear the largest
brunt of the problem. Sexual violence can have long lasting, harmful
consequence on it victims, their relatives, friends, and communities.
WHO (2012), described sexual violence as any
attempt to achieve a sexual act,
unwanted sexual comments, or advances, or act to traffic or otherwise directed
against a person’s sexuality using force, by any one regardless of their relationship to the
victim in any setting including home,
school, and work, (Krug, Mercy, Dahlberg, & Zwi, 2002). It involves
actions that range from verbal harassment to forced penetration, with various
types of social intimidation. Sexual violence is a common phenomenon and occurs
worldwide.
Data available suggests that in
some countries one in five women report sexual violence by an intimate partner
and up to a third of girls report forced sexual initiation (Odu, Falana, & Olotu, 2014) Sexual assault
encompasses a range of acts, including coerced sex in marriage and dating
relationships, rape by strangers, organized rape in war, sexual harassment
(including demands of sex for jobs or school grades), and rape of children,
trafficking of women and girls, female genital mutilation, and forced exposure
to pornography. It is any act (verbal and/or physical) which breaks a person’s
trust and/or safety and is sexual in nature
(Dahlberg & Krug, 2002).
Adolescent women are at a higher
risk for sexual violence than any other age group. Globally 40-47 percent of
sexual violence is done against girls age 15 and younger. Child sexual abuse
accounts for 7% to 8% of the mental health disease burden amongst females
globally (Degue et al,
2014).Studies shows that a large number
of date/acquaintance rape accounts for major cases of sexual violence. Poor
awareness of the menace among this age group is a major identified risk factors
increasing their vulnerability (CDC, 2014). Due to past or
ongoing sexual abuse, abused teens are more likely than their non-abused peers
to participate in “delinquent” teenage behaviors including those which result in
social problems, conflict with authority, early sexual behavior, and eating
problems, teenage pregnancy, and other high risk behaviors. (Darlinghton 2014). It is also note
worthy that Most reported cases of sexual violence in Nigeria happens to
victims of less than 18 years of age
(Adepoju, 2012)
Thus, putting Adolescents at a
greater risk of victimization in sexual violence issues. In preventing this
menace efforts must be made to reach both the perpetrators and the victims.
This is because programs planned towards creating awareness on sexual violence
would probably reduce perpetrators choice of committing sexual violence crimes
and victims risk of falling into such acts. Therefore assessing the knowledge
and experiences of adolescents is imperative in gathering baseline data that
would aid appropriate intervention program that is aimed at primarily
preventing sexual violence incidence in a developing country like Nigeria were
resources to manage cases are limited.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Everyday at least five children die
from child sexual abuse. It is reported that most of those affected are within
the age of 5 years and 18 years. It is
estimated that every incident of child sexual abuse cost the victim and
society at least $99,000 annually rape ranges from $47,000 to $60,000.(Bloom, 2005)
In Nigeria for instance, there has been
a daily report of one form of child sexual violence in the news media. Global
rights, an NGO, working to stop sexual violence in Nigeria, reported in 2016,
that one in four girls and one in ten boys have been sexually abused before age
18.
The increase rate of terrorism
especially in the northern part as been reported to be a predictor of increase
incidence of child sexual violence (UNICEF, 2016 ). Poor knowledge about sexual
violence, what to do after it occurs and knowledge about nearest resource
centers as well as other risky behaviors have been associated with its
prevalence and complications such as unwanted pregnancy and HIV/AIDS among this
age group (Misganaw & Worku, 2013).
Though several studies have been done
on sexual violence, its prevalence, and prevention among adolescents, most
studies however that has been done on knowledge focuses on college age groups (
older youths). Very little is known about what do adolescents males and females
truly know about sexual violence, what risk factors contributes to the
incidence, where to turn to for help in cases of emergencies and what their
experiences is. This study would therefore asses the knowledge and experiences
of adolescents on sexual violence. This would provide baseline information that
would help in the fight against sexual violence especially among adolescents
since it would give useful insight to appropriate interventions in preventing sexual
violence among this group.
1.3
Objective of the Study
The main objective of this study is
to assess the knowledge and experiences of sexual violence among adolescents in
Ile Ife.
The specific objectives are to;
1. assess the level of knowledge of adolescents
on sexual violence.
2.
asses the level of knowledge of risk reduction measures in preventing sexual
violence.
3.
explore the experiences of sexual violence among adolescents in Ife Central
local Government area.
1.4 Research Questions
1
What is the level of knowledge of
adolescents on sexual violence?
2
How much knowledge of risk reduction
measures in preventing sexual violence do these adolescents have?
3
What experiences of sexual violence do
adolescents have?
1.5 Hypothesis
Ho1. There is no significant
difference between adolescents’ age and their knowledge of sexual violence at
0.05 level of significance.
Ho2 Adolescents’ parent
socio-economic status will not significantly influence their experience of
sexual violence at 0.05 level of significance
Ho3 There is no
significant correlation between adolescent’s knowledge and their experience
of sexual violence. At 0.05 level of significance
1.6 Scope of the Study
This study was descriptive in
nature, and would make an attempt to assess the knowledge and experiences of
adolescents on sexual violence in the four selected high schools. Four high
schools was used so as to cut across various ages of adolescents in Ife Central
local government. The researcher would use a descriptive cross sectional design
to assess what adolescents know about sexual violence as well as what their
experiences is.This study focused mainly on adolescents that are currently in
school, whose ages are between twelve and eighteen years of age. The variables
was assessed using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire.
1.7 Significance of the Study
Findings from this study would
contribute to knowledge and provide baseline data that would be used to enhance
future studies as well as planning of appropriate intervention against sexual
violence`. The greater
demand to ensure a violence free society, the more the need to increases
researches that focuses on increasing knowledge at the primary level. The
school environment is a major place in the life of the adolescents were both
moral and social norms are learnt. Recommendations that were derived from the
findings of this study will guide researchers, policy makers, administrators
and other stakeholders in the fight against sexual violence, epidemic in
developing appropriate related sexual violence reduction programmes that would
improve the quality of life of our youths.
It
would also broaden the horizon of the researcher in the area of research
process in general as well as sexual violence research in particular because it
is an area of interest that may serve as a career path.
1.8 Justification for the Study
Sexual violence is common among
adolescents and place them on a lifelong trajectory of violence either as
victims or perpetrators (Lundgren & Amin, 2015). The adolescent
age has longed been proved as a very delicate age. The school is a major part of
every community were these adolescents acquire knowledge, thus schools was u
Based on the fact that the school setting provides one of the primary settings
in which youth come in contact with each other, and based on previous research
documenting the high rates of sexual harassment on school grounds (Greytak, 2003) researches
shows there are very high prevalence of sexual violence perpetrated among this
group. it is most likely that despite this, it is still not clear, how much
knowledge adolescents have on sexual violence and what their experience is
since most times cases of sexual violence goes unreported due to factors
ranging from myths to cultural differences especially in this part of the
world. It is therefore important that the experiences and knowledge levels be
explored to determine what Adolescents truly know about sexual violence.
1.9 Operational Definition of Terms
The terms in this section were defined
according to their usage and applicability in this study
Knowledge:
what adolescents know about sexual violence; its definition, prevalence,
predisposing risk, and prevention.
Experiences:
This refers to the form of sexual violence have these adolescents experienced
over time.
Sexual
violence: Any sexual act that is not wanted and perpetrated
on an individual without consent is considered a sexual violence in this study.
Prevention:
This refers to activities aimed at reducing the predisposition to risks of
sexual violence.
Adolescents:
Male and Females between ages 13-19 years and presently attending public high
schools in Ife Central Local Government of Osun State.
Child
Sexual Abuse; Also used inter changeably with
Adolescent sexual abuse to mean violence against minors.
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